romance - No Apology Book Reviews

Interview with Melinda Leigh (Cross Her Heart)

May 29, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh is action-packed. This first in a series has great characters working together to solve a murder mystery. It is a tale of lies, deceit, abuse, jealousy, guilt, blackmail, and murder along with heartbreak scenes about family. The main character is Bree Taggert. She has left the town of her birth and rarely goes to visit, even though her sister Erin, her niece and nephew, and brother Adam live …

Interview with Maisey Yates (Secrets from a Happy Marriage)

May 22, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Secrets from a Happy Marriage, by Maisey Yates, is her latest book, in a new genre, but maintaining the same great story writing. This first women’s fiction novel has a mystery, some history, some romance, and a lot of family interaction. It delves into the relationships between mothers-daughters, and sisters-sisters, where forgiveness, hope, love, acceptance, and starting over are important themes. The story opens with mail order bride, Jenny Hansen, writing a letter in …

Interview with Amanda Quick (Close Up)

May 15, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Close Up by Amanda Quick blends together the historical, suspense, and a tinge of the romance genres. Through a gripping mystery, readers also get a glimpse of the 1930s Hollywood-type glamour of California. The books opens with Vivian Brazier rushing to a crime scene to take photographs of a murder. Cut off from her family’s funds for pursuing her dream, a career in art, to make ends meet she takes crime scene photos and …

Call It Magic by Janet Chapman

May 13, 2020

Title: Call It Magic Author: Janet Chapman Series: Spellbound Falls #7 Started out somewhat promising…then tanked I would like to thank the late Janet Chapman, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I feel like I’m sacrilegiously speaking ill of the dead—rest in peace, Ms. Chapman—but that’s not going to stop me from giving an honest review. I wanted this book to be good so that it would honor Chapman’s …

Interview with Melissa Senate (Wyoming Special Delivery)

May 8, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Wyoming Special Delivery by Melissa Senate is a story about second chances. It intertwines family, forgiveness, and love, with emphasis on the role of family. Readers meet Daisy Dawson, who has been down on her luck. Nine months pregnant, she realizes that the man she is about to marry is a runaway groom who literally left her at the altar. Frustrated and embarrassed she jumps into her car and throws away her cell phone …

Interview with Carla Cassidy (48 Hour Lockdown)

April 25, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper 48 Hour Lockdown by Carla Cassidy is the first in a series of four books. The books are an anthology of sorts, but instead of having short stories in one book each plot has its own novel. Basically, the four different authors were provided by the publisher an over-reaching arc that included a unit of the FBI, The Tactical Crime Division, TCD, and the four heroes and heroines. In this story, the hero is …

Interview with Elizabeth Heiter (Secret Investigation)

April 26, 2020April 25, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Secret Investigation by Elizabeth Heiter is the second book in the “Tactical Crime Division Series.” This series is an anthology of books where each author writes about a different character in the TCD. The opening prologue sets the tone for the rest of the book. It is very powerful and gripping as it shows how those serving in the military sacrifice their lives to protect Americans. The plot is a reminder of the early …

Interview with Nicole Helm (South Dakota Showdown, Covert Complication, Backcountry Escape)

April 17, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Badlands Cops Series by Nicole Helm is a must read for anyone who wants a great suspense story intertwined with a romance and very likable protagonists. These novels explore if children can escape the sins of their father, who is the ruthless head of a murderous gang. The first book in the series, South Dakota Showdown has the oldest of the six Wyatt brothers, Jamison, helping his former beau, Liza rescue her four-year-old-kid …

Interview with Marta Perry (Amish Protector)

April 9, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Amish Protector by Marta Perry has both the hero and heroine as each other’s defenders. The story skillfully explores how children feel they are to blame for the sins of their parents, and what happens when secrets are revealed that have the birth parents possibly coming back into a child’s life. All this comes into play, intertwined within the Amish culture. The main character, Joanna Kohler, the Bishop’s daughter, discovers a mysterious unconscious woman …

Interview with Victoria Schade (Who Rescued Who)

March 20, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Who Rescued Who by Victoria Schade is a heartwarming novel. Intertwined throughout the story is how family, friends, including the furry four leg types, can make an imprint on someone’s life. Readers will love the interaction between the charming town and characters. At the beginning of the book, the main character, Elizabeth, gets fired from her social media job. Having been addicted to social media herself, she feels lost and abandoned. But coming to …